Reviews

Feral Harmonic

Folk rock certainly sees its waves of popularity, but one of the most endearing things about Old Canes' new album Feral Harmonic is its irreverence for mainstream demands. Despite its noticeably catchy progressions, Feral Harmonic is not attempting to be on the radio or to make you hum melodies all day long, it just offers good music from the soul and the rest follows as it may. Unlike many albums of this genre, Feral Harmonic maintains an unwaveringly driven pace throughout its entirety. With a solid, upbeat backbone and a variety of percussion, wind and string accompaniments, front man Chris Crisci has given this so-called 'side project' a serious front stage presence. Everything from the production quality to the instrumental timbre to the lyrical message to the hand-crafted packaging of the album speaks to the grassroots philosophy purveyed by the band.

Moving playfully from whimsical instrumental breakdowns to fast-paced, drum-driven choruses Feral Harmonic definitely has the capacity to hold attention and is likely to get peoples feet tapping, heads bobbing and beer glasses raising in the air. There are thoughts to be thought and good times to be had under the warm intoxication of this album. As an open advocate of the raw, nostalgic qualities of low-fi recording techniques Crisci has given this band and this album an accessible soul that is almost impossible to resist. The steady drum lines and poignant acoustic rhythms lift your spirit while the vocals, reminiscent of The Arcade Fire, draw you along on a series of small self-appointed adventures.

The Point: Feral Harmonic is a great album for drinking with friends, embarking on a road trip or roasting marshmallows over a fire…or a toaster for that matter.